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Mentoring program creates opportunities  by Cindy Abole Public Relations Several dozen Lowcounty high school students participated in MUSC’s annual Groundhog Shadowing Day and mentoring program.  On Feb. 10, a total of 53 Lowcountry area students gathered at MUSC to learn more about medicine and investigate health careers. Students were paired by job or career interests. For most students, the half-day event is sometimes their only opportunity to experience, observe and learn from workers performing their daily activities in the workplace.  Medical technologist Roc Tennyson, left, shows high school students Keosha Johnson and Courtney Simmons slide samples. For some juniors and seniors, their participation in this year’s Shadowing Day was the hallmark of a mentoring program sponsored by MUSC Medical Center and Charleston County School District (CCSD). CCSD’s Schools-to-Careers initiative was established to prepare students for the workplace by establishing work-based learning opportunities with employers and area businesses.  “Our mentoring program was first established two years ago in connection with the School-to-Careers initiative,” said Susan Carullo, MUHA human resources manager of compensation and employment. Carullo works with CCSD School-to-Careers facilitators to match students with hospital staff and health professionals in a year-long program that provides career guidance and assistance.  Last fall, mentoring program participants met for a pizza party kickoff. Mentors and students were encouraged to communicate with each other and participate in February’s shadowing day activities.  Senior Anastasia Swintop is a Stall High School student interested in computers and the business side of medicine. Swintop was assigned to MUSC Transplant Center’s Shekinah Pope, a data coordinator. On Shadowing Day, Swintop was among a handful of mentoring program participants who met with their mentors or designated specialists throughout the experience. Swintop, along with two other students, met with transplant center nurse Laura Hildebrand, R.N., who provided a brief orientation of pre-and-post transplant services.  “It was a great experience,” said Swintop. “I only wished we had time to see more and ask questions.” Hildebrand and other mentors shared a mutually positive experience.  “This year’s shadow day event helped me realize the depth of our staff and skills within the transplant center,” Hildebrand said. “Fortunately, we were able to tap into a variety of medical specialists and staff and match them specifically with student’s needs.” West Ashley High's Schools-to-Career facilitator Ann Cario Hurley has participated in MUSC Shadowing Day for more than six years. She is pleased to see that employers like MUSC show an interest and are active in connecting with students regarding jobs and career choices.    Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.